Motorcycle - Debating a purchase, what's your opinion?

[brokeno]

No don't do it.

[Turboe]

I’m 51, started racing MX on my mini Elsinore Honda MR50 at 7, and have been riding ever since. I currently ride a 17’ CRF450. Only had 1 road bike CBR600R Wanted to go faster so I sold it...
I assume you enjoy outdoors since you’re a GS’r, I have been eyeing the Honda African Twin for a great dual sport bike. I’ve ridden my buddies (78 yr old...) several times and it’s amazing. There are routes that go pretty much wherever you would like to go and most of it is dirt or back roads. Not much traffic at all and beautiful country especially Colorado.
I would recommend renting several bikes to see what you like the best.

Good luck and enjoy life!

[TacticalCowboy]

I had a KLR650 for 6 weeks. A doe jumped out in front of me on June 29th this year, I hit her, layer the bike over, and got to spend a night in the hospital. I was running 55-60mph, cause I didn’t want to hit a deer or hog.

Ripe old age of 23 and I’m done scootering. I’m hoping to get out of my cast Tuesday.


I wanted to cruise backroads and tour national parks. I’ll do that in the pickup now.

[RJH1]

Within a month 5 people i know were i motorcycle wrecks, 2 had minor road rash, 1 got road rash and a broken arm, one looked like mike tyson beat on him for twelve rounds and got 56 stitches in his head, and one got a cracked skull some time in intensive care and is making a slow recovery. Couple years back another buddy got hit by a car at low speed, but it snapped the hell out of his leg.

None of the accidents were the riders fault, all just **** happens type deals. None of these accidents would have even scratched any of these people if they were in a car. Buy you a convertible or a jeep, then you can you midlife crisis and live through it too. You will also get A/C, heat, and stay dry....

[brokeno]

You were one lucky guy. Thank God you were smart enough to be wearing your helmet.

[steve corn]

Been riding for most of my adult years. I love it. I can't tell you how many people I know who said they always wanted a bike. After most bought one and rode for a few months and swear they love it the new wears off and when I ask them why they don't ride any more they all say they don't have time. We all make time for the things we really want to do. No one can tell you if it is good for you. I ride most days but I also know it's not the safest way to travel. I do not have a wife or kids at home so I will ride as long as I can hold it up. JMO

[BW412]

I sold my Harley about 12 years ago when my first kid was born. I miss it but don’t regret selling it. I’ve lost too many friends on bikes.

[Acameron52]

Brother I’m in the same boat as you and I can’t decide. I’m 25, just went and got my motorcycle license. I’ve been riding dirt bikes my whole life. I decided about a year ago that I wanted a Street Glide but I just can’t make myself pull the trigger. It doesn’t help that within the last two months one of my brothers at work got hit, and a week later my uncle got hit. Both of them are okay luckily, but it could have been worse. It also doesn’t help that I’m a firemen and every motorcycle wreck I’ve ever been on the biker lost. At the same time, it does no good to live your life in fear. I take a gamble everyday I go to work, I don’t see much of a difference. I’m still looking and if a deal pops up I’m gonna jump on it. But if not I think I’ve talked myself into an old Jeep to fill the “toy” void for a while.

[Mike]

This is pretty much what I was expecting to hear. Not that it matters but I've been looking at older Harleys, 2000-2010 and they are all less than $10K, most in the $5-6K range actually. I was never looking to purchase new. I know it would be a fair weather deal for me, riding in this heat is crazy down here. My take is I am not spending a bunch of $$, no note and if it sits in the garage, so be it. It's not funds I need for something else, if that makes sense.

Regarding the wife, after being married for 26 years, we tend to talk about everything, except her shoes, we don't talk about that, lol. My wife travels for her job a few times a year and she is very independent in her travels, she tends to schedule her trips when I am hunting or fishing so it works out. Some of what I want to do is places she has no interest in visiting but I went there often as a kid.

We lost a longtime family friend at age 38 on a controlled Cops Helping Kids ride in 2000. The ride had police escorts front and back and never went over 50mph. A car pulled out in front of him on the shoulder and bumped him. He went down, severed his femoral artery and died in his brother's arm while his wife watched. He was super successful in business, it was very sad. I have a fishing buddy who's father was a police officer and was killed in a funeral escort, car pulled out in front of him.

I have also been toying the idea of a sports car, something older, Corvette possibly. I am sure leaning that way. I know that would be the wise choice but some of those bikes do look good, lol.

[KX500]

I'm another 'been riding all my life' guy. Don't see that changing.

But a huge deciding factor is where you live. I've lived in rural areas all my life. The few times I've taken a bike to a city, were a few too many.

You have to assume every car (or animal along side the rode) is going to try to kill you. In a city, there are just too many cars to be able to watch them all.

Rural areas & small communities, much less of an issue.

I have had many drivers not see me. I expect & anticipate it. Having the right of way means nothing if you loose (and you will) the collision.

The only bike I'd say don't buy, is a fast one. Bikes have personalities. Fast bikes tell you to ride them fast & it is so easy to do. Had one - it was hard to not hit at least 100 mph every time I rode it - I mean 60 mph to 100 mph is just a twist of the grip and a few seconds away. Yeah, don't buy a fast bike.

My first cruiser (Yamaha V-star 1100) had more of a 'just ride' personality. That bike was not the least bit about speed. It would go if you asked it to, but it didn't make you feel like it.

I've had more adrenaline rush close calls with deer than I have with cars.

My next bike will probably be a Can Am Spyder - just because the odds of not going down when hitting a deer would be a lot higher.

[Pineywoods]

There are way more negative comments toward riding than I anticipated. I love to ride and still have a motorcycle at 40. I am married with a grown married daughter and a 12 & 13 year old at home. I am fully aware of the possible dangers but I don't live my life in fear. I know the one who is in control and it's not me. We take a "risk" every time we get in a vehicle to commute to work or choose a greasy cheeseburger instead of a salad at dinner. I don't have the stats but I bet heart attacks and car wrecks have taken more Dads than motorcycles. I don't take anything away from the fact that in this distracted age there is danger, but I don't worry about such things. I don't ride in the city and try to be a defensive rider and be as aware as possible of my surroundings. Even being that way, anything could happen. I don't let the fear of the "what if's" control me. If you want a bike, and your wife doesn't have deep objections, go for it.

[Rick]

I bought a bike when I was about your age...I bought a used VTX1300 as I was not sure if I would like it,... I rode dirt bikes as a kid, never really wanted a street bike, then I go the bug. I bought it for 4500 and sold it probably 10-12 later for 3500. I lovd riding it, but as I got older I felt less comfortable and sold it, not because of any change in other driver habits, it was just me.

I rode to Sturgis at about 55, and that was an amazing trip, we rode up and did not trailer, stayed in a hotel. 2 1/2 days to get there, 2 to come home. I went to florida and toured NW Arkansas on it, fun times!!

go for it if you want to!!

I would have not been happy on the road with anything smaller, there were times I wished I had an 1800

[kurt68]

as a funeral director for 30 plus years, I've put PLENTY of heads together for the funeral. It's not the motorcycle rider at fault, it's usually the other persons fault. Doesn't matter though, you are dead none the less. No matter how careful you are, it's the other drivers that aren't.

[WyoBull]

I have ridden bikes for close to 50 years, starting with a mini bike when I was a young kid and gradually moving up through dirt bikes to Harley's and BMW's. My passion was traveling around the western United States. I only went down once at highway speed on my BMW and was lucky to only have sustained a lot of bruising as I was wearing all my leather helmet etc.

I sold my last bike several years ago and don't plan on riding again. There are just too many distracted drivers and it is no longer worth it to me. As the saying goes, there are two kinds of motorcycle riders... those that have gone down, and those who will. I consider myself very lucky to not have had more serious injuries when I did go down as many have not been so fortunate.

I would never tell anyone not to ride as I had years and years of enjoyment from doing it. For me, that time had run its course.

[Goldeneagle]

I sold my bike when my son was born in 1987. It was just a father thing. I'm 61 now and he is grown. The itch is coming back. And yes, I've lost some friends over the years from accidents. I've lost more to Jeep roll overs than on bikes though.